Paul and Ringo reunite for Beatles videogame

Ringo Starr (L) and Paul McCartney, of The Beatles, introduce the new video game "The Beatles: Rock Band" at the Microsoft XBox 360 E3 2009 media briefing in Los Angeles June 1, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the two surviving members of The Beatles, appeared together in Los Angeles on Monday to present a “Rock Band” videogame that will give fans a chance to relive the Fab Four’s musical triumphs.

McCartney and Starr put in a quick appearance at the E3 videogame trade conference to rousing applause. Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison, also appeared at the event.

“The Beatles: Rock Band,” which will be released on September 9, marks The Beatles’ first leap into digitally releasing their music. The band has not allowed its songs to be downloaded on Web sites such as iTunes.

McCartney and Starr performed together in April at a benefit concert in New York, but appearances together have been rare since The Beatles disbanded in 1970.

“The Beatles: Rock Band” is a production of Apple Corps Ltd, the company founded in the 1960s by the band, and MTV Games’ Harmonix Music Systems.

The game allows players to follow in The Beatles’ footsteps by singing in three-part harmonies and physically holding plugged-in versions of musical instruments to play the band’s songs, including “Back in the USSR” and “I Am the Walrus.”

The “Rock Band” videogame series has featured music from Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and many other acts.